I can win the Australian Open: Stosur

Samantha Stosur says she can put her mental demons behind her to win the Australian Open in January.

Getty Images: Julian Finney

A year on from her summer from hell, Samantha Stosur says there is no reason why she cannot bounce back and win the Australian Open.

Despite candidly confessing to stage fright after first-round losses in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne last January, Stosur is brimming with belief entering 2013.

Last summer I just froze and played really tight tennis and wasn't free. I was too passive and didn't do what I needed to do.

Samantha Stosur

"I've got as good a chance as any of the girls up there," Stosur said.

"I won the US Open last year, so why not?

"I know that I can compete and beat the best girls in the world, so I'd like to think it's possible."

Far from shying away, Australia's world number nine is vowing to stare down her mental demons and says reliving the pain of last summer is pivotal to hurdling the psychological barriers next month.

"I think you've got to realise what happened and why and what you did wrong and what you can improve on to not make the same mistakes again this coming year," she said.

"Last summer I just froze and played really tight tennis and wasn't free. I was too passive and didn't do what I needed to do.

"That has happened a few times and it's a matter of realising that in the moment and just taking that chance to do more rather than letting your opponent continue to dictate."

After urgings from coach David Taylor and ongoing sessions with her long-time sports psychologist, Ruth Anderson, Stosur has resolved to be more aggressive in the pressure points that will ultimately define her summer campaign.